Motor vehicle identification tag holder



March 19, 1946. c. 'r. STORM ETAL MOTOR VEHICLE INDENTIFICATIQN TAG HOLDER Filed Aug. 14, 1944.

'2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q Carl 776507-111,

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March 19, 1946.

-c. T. STORM EI'AL MOTOR VEHICLE INDENTIFICA'I'ION TAG HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 14, 1944 CarZI-S'iorm l'oujisefl-S'Zorm.

Patented Mar. 19 1946 oFFrc A MOTOR VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION TAG HOLDER Carl '1. Storm and Louise n. Storm, Detroit, Mich.

Application August 14, 1944, Serial No. 549,324

4 Claims. (01. 40-125) The invention relates to a novel holder for a motor vehicle identification plate or tag, and to prevent confusion with various plates embodied in the construction, of the holder, said identification plate or tag will be hereinafter referred to only as a tag.

One object of the invention is to provide an unusually simple and inexpensive holder which permits quick and easy removal of one tag and re-clamping of the same tag after attachment of a tab or plate bearing the number of the year, .or clamping of a new tag.

Another object is tomake novel and effective provision for varying the relation of length to height of the holder according to the proportions of the tag to be clamped.

A still further object is to provide a novel structure for locking the holder in tag-clamping position to prevent unauthorized changing of tags.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, description being accomplished by reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a disassembled perspective View partly broken away and in section, showing the which permits locking of the holder in tag-holding position.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the bolt and nut used in operatively connecting the plates.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the assembled holder.

Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged sectional views on lines 4-4 and 5-5 of Fig. 3.

7 four plates and their hook flanges, and the means which telescope when said plates 6 and 6' are hook flanges II and II to telescope with said flanges I0 and I0 when said lower plates I and -'I' are slidably overlapped with said upper plates 6 and 6'.

The plate 6 is formed with a horizontal slot I2 near its inner lower corner, and toward its upper edge has other horizontal slots I3 and I4 which open through its inner end. Pivoted at I5 to this plate, is a horizontal bar I6 having teeth I! its full length. v

The plate 6 has a large notch I8 in its lower edge, and a horizontal slot I9 near its upper edge. This plate 6' is provided with a lateral lug 26 having an opening 2|, and near this lug a dog 22 is pivoted to said plate, at 22'.

The plate I is formed with a large notch 23 in its inner end, and with a horizontal slot 24 below said notch and opening through the inner edge of the plate. A vertical slot 25 is also formed in and opens through the upper edge of this plate 'I'.

Plate 1' has an inclined cam slot 28 formed therein, and near the lower edge of this plate there is also a horizontal slot 21. This plate 1 and the other. plate 1 preferably have water drainage openings 28 in their hook flanges 9 and 9. J

When the four plates 6, 6', I and 'I' are assembled, their hook flanges will telescope and said plates will slidably overlap as seen in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. The bar I6 will extend through the opening 2| in the lug 20; the slot I4 will accom modate one end of the dog, pivot 22' which .may be considered as a rivet; and the slots I3 and I9 will register with each other. Also the slot 26 will cross the slot I2; the slots 24 and '21 will register with each other, and the slot 25 will accommodate one end of the bar pivot l5 which may be considered as a rivet. A shouldered bolt 29 is passed through both slots I2 and 26 and while freely slidable in both, is preferably held in the slot I2 by clamping the plate 6 between the bolt shoulder 30 and the nut 3| of the bolt. By loosening the nut, however, the bolt may be adjusted longitudinally of the slot I2.

The holder is contracted to cause its hook flanges to embrace the edges of the tag T, by simply pulling on handle I6 or by pushing inwardly on the outer ends of the plates 6, 6', I and I, the dog 22 being first swung up away from the bar I6. As the plates are thus slid inwardly, the bolt 29 and cam slot 26 cooperate to efiect the necessary relative vertical sliding of the plates. Whenever it is necessary to change the relation of length to height of the holder according to the proportions of the tag to be clamped, this may be accomplished by adjusting the bolt 29 longitudinally of the slot l2.

The teeth I! of the bar 16 are engageable with the lower end of the opening 2i to hold the plates against outward creeping and the dog 22, when swung down, will hold said teeth against accidental disengagement. If desired the shackle of an ordinaryipadlock may be passed through the opening 2| 'over thebar l6 to lock it in operative position. The free end of this bar may well be bent laterally, to form a handle I6 by means of which said bar may be readily operated.

If desired (see Fig. 4), a thumb screw 32 111- stead of the shouldered bolt 29, may extend through the slots l2 and 26 and engage a nut 33;

Tightening of this thumb screw after relative adjustment of the plates will hold them in, tag! clamping position. The bar 416, dog 22 and lug 20 may, therefore, be dispensed with, if desired,

but may well be retained as an extra precaution and to permit locking of the holder.

Suitable bolts 34 (Fig. 4) may be passed through slots l9 and 21 to mount the holder on the usual bracket and the nuts 35 of these bolts will be received in the slots l3 and 24.

I From the foregoing, it will be seen that a novel said upper plates, the outer ends of said upperv plates and the outer ends of said lower plates having telescoped hook flanges to engage theends of the tag, one of said plates having aninclined cam slot, the diagonally opposite plate having a horizontal slot which crosses said inclined cam slot, a bolt extending through both of said slots 'engageable with one end of said opening, the

other endpf said opening being sufliciently large plates having telescoped hook flanges at their and cooperable with said cam slot to relatively slide said uppergand lower plates verticallywhen said plates are relativelyslid inwardly, and a nut on said bolt, the relation of length to width of the holder being variable by adjusting said bolt longitudinally of said horizontal slot.

'2. A license tag holder comprising two slidably overlapped upper plates having 'telescoped hook plates and the outer ends of; said lower plates lower edges to engage the lower edge of the tag, saidlower plates being slidably overlapped with said upper plates, the outer ends of said upper plates and the outer ends of said lower plates having telescoped hook flanges to engage the ends of the tag, one of said plates being formed with an inclined cam slot, the plate diagonally opposite said one plate being in contact with it and formed with a horizontal slot positioned to intersect said camv slot, the two remaining plates being recessed adjacent the slotted areas of said diagonally opposite plates, a headed and shouldered bolt passed through said intersecting slots, a nut on the threaded end of the bolt to clamp the plate having said horizontal slot against the shoulder on said bolt, and meanslfor locking the several plates against relative movement after their. hook flanges have been engaged with the edges of a license tag.

4. A license tag holder comprising two slidably overlapped upper plates having telescoped hook flanges at their upper edges to engage the upper edge of the tag, two slidably overlapped lower plates having telescoped hook flanges at their lower edges to engage the lower edge of the tag, said lower plates being slidably overl pped with said upper plates, the outer ends of said upper plates and the outer ends of said lower plates having telescoped hook flanges, to engage the ends of the tag, the four plates being substantially rectangular in shape and having their inner .corner portions in overlapping relation, one,of said plates having an inclined cam slot in its inner corner portion, the plate diagonally opposite said one plate being in contact with it and having an opening to register with said slot, the other two diagonally opposite plates having recesses in areas adjacent said slot and said opening, and a clamping bolt passed throughsaid slot and said opening to hold said contacting plates against relative movement.

CARL T. STORM. LOUISE H. STORM. 

